Top News:
Joel Sherman / New York Post:
What's in the immediate future for the Yankees? — HOUSTON — Andy Pettitte and Mariano Rivera faded to black, the ceremonies and tears finally at an end. — Robinson Cano and Derek Jeter exited to mystery. Are they the once and future double-play combo?
Discussion:
Boston Globe, HardballTalk, The LoHud Yankees Blog, Bleed Cubbie Blue, Pinstriped Bible, MLB Rumors and River Avenue Blues
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Phil Rogers / Chicago Tribune:
Your Morning Phil: Sveum, Girardi and a farewell — On Baseball — Talking baseball while pitying the fools who passed on Peyton Manning in their fantasy leagues: — 1. Dale Sveum seems likely to be fired today, and to his credit hasn't come close to pulling an Eric Wedge.
Discussion:
CSN Chicago, MLB Rumors, Bleed Cubbie Blue and MLB Daily Dish
Associated Press:
Cubs Fire Manager Dale Sveum After 2 Seasons — CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs fired manager Dale Sveum on Monday after finishing last in the NL Central for the first time in seven years, ending a two-year run that produced more losses than any other in the team's cursed history.
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue
Ryan Lawrence / Philly.com:
Phillies Notebook: Phillies' Ruiz hopes to return next season — ATLANTA - Phillies team president David Montgomery made his way through the visiting clubhouse at Turner Field yesterday morning, sending well wishes to his players. — He stopped and chatted with veteran catcher Carlos Ruiz for several minutes.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
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Ben Badler / Baseball America:
Five Teams That Could Sign Jose Abreu — Major League Baseball and the U.S. government have given Cuban first baseman Jose Abreu the green light to sign. — International scouts already have formed strong opinions about Abreu, who has been one of the most heavily-scouted Cuban players in recent years …
Discussion:
HardballTalk, Amazin' Avenue, Lone Star Ball and Bucs Dugout
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Matthew Cerrone / Metsblog:
Mets will scout Cuban 1B Jose Abreu — The Mets have three scouts in Santo Domingo to watch Cuban 1B Jose Abreu, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post. — Abreu declared as a free agent this past weekend and is clear to sign with an MLB team, MLB.com's Jesse Sanchez reported on Twitter.
Discussion:
Over the Monster and MLB Daily Dish
MLB.com:
Marlins to sell no-hitter tickets — Marlins Pitcher Henderson Alvarez made history on Sunday by tossing the fifth no-hitter in franchise history and the first no-hitter at Marlins Park. The Marlins are offering fans who were unable to attend the game the opportunity to purchase the remaining unsold tickets from yesterday's game.
Discussion:
The Strike Zone and HardballTalk
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Clark Spencer / MiamiHerald.com:
Henderson Alvarez closes Miami Marlins season with no-hitter
Henderson Alvarez closes Miami Marlins season with no-hitter
Discussion:
BBTF's Baseball Primer …
David Pinto / baseballmusings.com:
Alvarez in the Ninth — Henderson Alvarez comes out for the top …
Alvarez in the Ninth — Henderson Alvarez comes out for the top …
Discussion:
Minor League Ball, Baseball Prospectus, Fish Stripes and Bless You Boys
Steve Adams / MLB Rumors:
Rangers Designate Joey Butler For Assignment — The Rangers have reinstated Nelson Cruz from the restricted list following his Biogenesis suspension and designated fellow outfielder Joey Butler for assignment in order to create room on the 40-man roster, according to executive vice president of communications John Blake (on Twitter).
Discussion:
Gaslamp Ball
Patrick Saunders / Denver Post:
ROCKIES TOP 3 ITEMS ON OFFSEASON TO-DO LIST AND POSITION BREAKDOWN — LOS ANGELES — The numbers are sobering for even the most die-hard of fans. — For the 14th time in 21 seasons, the Rockies finished with a losing record. For the first time in franchise history …
Discussion:
MLB.com and MLB Rumors
David Pinto / baseballmusings.com:
Game of the Day — Left-handers David Price and Martin Perez square off in Texas as the Rays and Rangers meet to decide which team plays Cleveland in the AL Wild Card game. Nelson Cruz joins the Rangers after serving his suspension for PED use. Cruz hits Price well, six for 12 in his career with two home runs.
Discussion:
CBSSports.com Sports News … and Brew Crew Ball
MLB.com:
Rangers to activate Cruz for tiebreaker game — ARLINGTON — Rangers outfielder Nelson Cruz has served his 50-game suspension and will be activated for Monday night's tiebreaker game against the Rays at the Ballpark in Arlington. Cruz accepted a 50-game suspension by Major League Baseball …
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball, The Strike Zone and ESPN
Lee Enterprises / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals set RISP record — • By Derrick Goold dgoold@post-dispatch.com 314-340-8285 — In a fitting finish to a record-setting season with runners in scoring position, the Cardinals went four for nine in such situations Sunday and scored all their runs in a 4-0 win over the Cubs with two outs.
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Associated Press:
Yanks Top Astros 5-1 in 14, Enter Uncertain Future — HOUSTON — Mark Reynolds hit a tiebreaking homer in a four-run 14th inning, and the New York Yankees went into an offseason of uncertainty Sunday with a 5-1 victory over the Houston Astros, whose 15-game losing streak was the longest at the end of the season in more than a century.
Discussion:
The Crawfish Boxes and CBS New York
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